Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga has made history. She is the first African woman to land a spot in the top 10 of the women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
This news was shared on Monday at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, England.
Chawinga’s success is a big step for women’s football in Africa. It places her among the best players recognized in this prestigious award.
Temwa was born on September 20, 1998, in Rumphi District, Malawi. She plays for Kansas City Current in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League and also represents the Malawi national team.
She became a well-known goalscorer while playing for Wuhan Jianghan University in China. There, she won four straight Chinese Women’s Super League titles from 2020 to 2023.
Since joining Kansas City Current, she has added the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the 2025 NWSL Shield to her achievements.
Temwa’s personal awards include back-to-back NWSL Most Valuable Player titles. She also won the Golden Boot in 2024 and 2025.
In addition, she grabbed the Chinese Women’s Super League Golden Boot in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, she received the International Federation of Football History and Statistics’ World’s Best Top Goal Scorer award.
The Ballon d’Or top 10 also featured players like Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, and Spain’s Patri Guijarro. Other names included Denmark’s Pernille Harder, Poland’s Ewa Pajor, and Spain’s Clàudia Pina and Alexia Putellas. England’s Alessia Russo and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw rounded out the list.
This selection included talent from Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. It shows how the skill in women’s football is spreading worldwide.
Chawinga’s historic ranking boosts Africa’s presence in women’s football. It highlights her rising status as one of the leading forwards in the game.
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